The Bruin lab studies the pathogenesis of diabetes, with a focus on insulin-secreting beta cells, which are located in endocrine cell clusters within the pancreas called \u2018islets\u2019. \u00a0We are particularly interested in how environmental factors impact the endocrine pancreas during fetal development and during adult periods of metabolic stress.<\/p>\n
Our research uses a diverse range of complementary tools and approaches.\u00a0 Our in vivo <\/em>work includes mouse models of diabetes (type 1 and type 2), transgenic and gene knockout mouse models, and islet transplantation techniques. \u00a0Our in vitro <\/em>approaches include differentiation of human pluripotent stem cells into pancreas lineage cells (a unique tool for modeling human pancreas development), primary culture of isolated pancreatic islets, and tissue culture of immortalized cell lines.<\/p>\n We are currently recruiting highly motivated undergraduate and graduate students (MSc and PhD) to join the lab. Current projects include investigating the role of xenobiotic metabolism enzymes in pancreatic islets, and screening for environmental toxicants that impact adult beta cell function and survival, as well as critical windows of beta cell development.<\/p>\n Underline<\/u> indicates HQP from the Bruin Lab or co-supervised HQP<\/p>\n * Indicates equal contribution by authors<\/p>\n van Allen K<\/u>, Gang N<\/u>, Hoyeck MP<\/u>, Perera I<\/u>,\u00a0Zhang D, Atlas E, Lynn FC, Bruin JE<\/strong>. Characterizing the effects of Dechlorane Plus on \u03b2-cells: a comparative study across models and species. Islets,<\/em>\u00a016(1):2361996 (2024). https:\/\/www.tandfonline.com\/doi\/full\/10.1080\/19382014.2024.2361996<\/a><\/p>\n Hoyeck MP<\/u>, Ching AME<\/u>, Basu L<\/u>, van Allen K<\/u>, \u00a0Palaniyandi J<\/u>, \u00a0Perera I<\/u>, \u00a0Poleo-Giorgani E<\/u>, Hanson AA<\/u>,\u00a0Ghorbani P, Fullerton MD, Bruin JE<\/strong>. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor in \u03b2-cells mediates the effects of TCDD on glucose homeostasis in mice. Molecular Metabolism<\/em>. Feb 2;81:101893 (2024). https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1016\/j.molmet.2024.101893<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n Palaniyandi J<\/u>, Bruin JE<\/strong>, Kumarathasan P, MacPherson S, Borghese MM,\u00a0Ashley-Martin J. Prenatal exposure to\u00a0perfluoroalkyl substances\u00a0and inflammatory biomarker concentrations.\u00a0Environmental Epidemiology. <\/em>7(4):p e262, (2023).\u00a0<\/em>DOI: 10.1097\/EE9.0000000000000262<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n Hoyeck MP<\/u>, Merhi RC<\/u>, Tulloch C<\/u>, McCormick K<\/u>, Hossain SMA<\/u>, Hanson AA<\/u>, Bruin JE<\/strong>.\u00a0Fetal and neonatal dioxin exposure causes sex-specific metabolic alterations in mice. Toxicological Sciences<\/em>, Jun 28;194(1):70-83 (2023).https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1093\/toxsci\/kfad042<\/a><\/u><\/p>\n Hoyeck M*<\/u>, Matteo G*<\/u>, MacFarlane EM<\/u>, Perera I<\/u>, Bruin JE. <\/strong>Persistent organic pollutants and \u03b2-cell toxicity: a comprehensive review. American Journal of Physiology – Endocrinology & Metabolism. <\/em>May 1;322(5):E383-E413 (2022). [Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\n Gang N<\/u>, Van Allen K<\/u>, Villeneuve P, MacDonald H, Bruin JE<\/strong>. Sex-specific associations between type 2 diabetes incidence and exposure to dioxin and dioxin-like pollutants: a meta-analysis. Frontiers in Toxicology. <\/em>Vol 3, Article 685840 (2022). [Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\n Matteo G*<\/u>,\u00a0Hoyeck M*<\/u>,\u00a0Blair H<\/u>,\u00a0Rick KRC<\/u>, Williams A, Buick JK, Gagn\u00e9 R, Yauk CL,\u00a0Bruin JE<\/strong>.\u00a0Chronic low-dose dioxin exposure accelerates high fat diet-induced hyperglycemia in female mice.<\/em>\u00a0Endocrinology,<\/em>\u00a0162(6):1-18\u00a0<\/em>(2021). [Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\n MacFarlane EM<\/u>,\u00a0Bruin JE<\/strong>.\u00a0Human pluripotent stem cells: a unique tool for toxicity testing in pancreatic progenitor and endocrine cells.\u00a0Frontiers in Endocrinology\u00a0<\/em>(special edition \u201cAdvances in Stem Cell Technology to Model and Treat Diabetes\u201d).\u00a0<\/em>Jan 19;11:604998 (2021). [Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\n Hoyeck M<\/u>,\u00a0Merhi R<\/u>,\u00a0Blair HL<\/u>, Spencer CD, Payant MA, Alfonso DIM,\u00a0Zhang M<\/u>,\u00a0Matteo G<\/u>, Chee MJ,\u00a0Bruin JE<\/strong>.\u00a0Female mice exposed to low doses of dioxin during pregnancy and lactation have increased susceptibility to diet-induced obesity and diabetes.Molecular Metabolism<\/em>. Dec;42:101104 (2020). [Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\n Ibrahim M<\/u>,\u00a0MacFarlane EM<\/u>,\u00a0Matteo G<\/u>,\u00a0Hoyeck MP<\/u>,\u00a0Rick KRC,\u00a0Farokhi S<\/u>,\u00a0Copley CM<\/u>, O\u2019Dwyer S,\u00a0Bruin JE<\/strong>.\u00a0Functional cytochrome P450 1A enzymes are induced in mouse and human islets following pollutant exposure.\u00a0Diabetologia<\/em>. 63(1):162-178 (2020).\u00a0[Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\n \u200bHoyeck MP<\/u>,\u00a0Blair H<\/u>,\u00a0Ibrahim M<\/u>,\u00a0Solanki S<\/u>,\u00a0Elsawy M<\/u>,\u00a0Prakash A<\/u>,\u00a0Rick KRC,\u00a0Matteo G<\/u>, O\u2019Dwyer S,\u00a0Bruin JE<\/strong>.\u00a0Long-term metabolic consequences of acute dioxin exposure differ between male and female mice.\u00a0Scientific Reports<\/em>. 10(1):1448 (2020).\u00a0[Full Text<\/a>]<\/p>\nSelected Publications<\/h2>\n